Abstract: A redox flow battery system including a reactive cell with an anode chamber separated from a cathode chamber separated by an ion-permeable membrane is provided. A catholyte reservoir is connected to the cathode chamber by a catholyte fluid circulation circuit. An anolyte reservoir is connected to the anolyte chamber by an anolyte fluid circulation circuit. Nitrogen sparging of reactive oxygen from the catholyte fluid in the catholyte reservoir prevents the formation of a finely divided solid precipitate in the catholyte fluid. Nitrogen may be provided from an external source of nitrogen. Nitrogen may also be provided by the in situ generation of nitrogen from air.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes a membrane electrode assembly and a bipolar plate. The bipolar plate has a corrugated portion defined by an adjacent pair of proximal and distal peak portions and a sidewall segment connecting the peak portions. The sidewall segment and membrane electrode assembly at least partially define a flow channel. The sidewall segment includes a shoulder portion defining a step spaced away from the peak portions.

Abstract: A fuel cell system may include a fuel cell stack having a header and active area in fluid communication with the header. The fuel cell system may also include a wedge disposed within the header and configured to alter the cross-sectional area of the header along the length of the stack such that, during operation of the stack, a flow velocity of gas through the active area is generally constant.

Abstract: A redox flow battery system including a reactive cell with an anode chamber separated from a cathode chamber separated by an ion-permeable membrane. A catholyte reservoir is connected to the cathode chamber by a catholyte fluid circulation circuit. An anolyte reservoir is connected to the anolyte chamber by an anolyte fluid circulation circuit. Nitrogen sparging of reactive oxygen from the catholyte fluid in the catholyte reservoir prevents the formation of a finely divided solid precipitate in the catholyte fluid. Nitrogen may be provided from an external source of nitrogen. Nitrogen may also be provided by the in situ generation of nitrogen from air.

Abstract: A battery system includes a metal oxygen battery. The metal oxygen battery includes a first electrode and a second electrode. The second electrode includes a metal material (M). The metal oxygen battery is in communication with an oxygen storage material. In certain instances, the oxygen storage material is contained within an oxygen containment unit. The metal oxygen battery and the oxygen containment unit may be in a closed-loop with respect to each other. The battery system further includes a conduit for providing fluid communication from one of the metal oxygen battery and the oxygen containment unit to the other of the metal oxygen battery and the oxygen containment unit.

Abstract: A fuel cell system may include a fuel cell stack having a header and active area in fluid communication with the header. The fuel cell system may also include a wedge disposed within the header and configured to alter the cross-sectional area of the header along the length of the stack such that, during operation of the stack, a flow velocity of gas through the active area is generally constant.

Abstract: A power generating system may include a plurality of bipolar plates stacked to form a fuel cell assembly having an inlet side, a non-inlet side, an inlet header extending from the inlet side to the non-inlet side, an active area, and an inlet transition area. The inlet transition area may be in fluid communication with (i) the inlet header via feed passageways formed in each of the plates and (ii) the active area. The feed passageways of the plates located proximate to the inlet side may be generally smaller and/or fewer in number than the feed passageways of the plates located proximate to the non-inlet side such that, during operation of the fuel cell assembly, a flow velocity of gas through the active area is generally constant.

Abstract: A fuel cell system may include a fuel cell stack having a header and active area in fluid communication with the header. The fuel cell system may also include a wedge disposed within the header and configured to alter the cross-sectional area of the header along the length of the stack such that, during operation of the stack, a flow velocity of gas through the active area is generally constant.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes a membrane electrode assembly and a bipolar plate. The bipolar plate has a corrugated portion defined by an adjacent pair of proximal and distal peak portions and a sidewall segment connecting the peak portions. The sidewall segment and membrane electrode assembly at least partially define a flow channel. The sidewall segment includes a shoulder portion defining a step spaced away from the peak portions.

Abstract: An energy generation system includes a carbon reformer, an enthalpy wheel, and an electrochemical cell. The system allows production of electrical power using a variety of carbon-based fuels through a carbon monoxide intermediate and a means to isolate the carbon monoxide from waste products prior to injection into the fuel cell. The fuel cell oxidizes carbon monoxide and reduces oxygen spontaneously to develop electric current.

Abstract: A fuel cell system may include a fuel cell stack having a header and active area in fluid communication with the header. The fuel cell system may also include a wedge disposed within the header and configured to alter the cross-sectional area of the header along the length of the stack such that, during operation of the stack, a flow velocity of gas through the active area is generally constant.

Abstract: A power generating system may include a plurality of bipolar plates stacked to form a fuel cell assembly having an inlet side, a non-inlet side, an inlet header extending from the inlet side to the non-inlet side, an active area, and an inlet transition area. The inlet transition area may be in fluid communication with (i) the inlet header via feed passageways formed in each of the plates and (ii) the active area. The feed passageways of the plates located proximate to the inlet side may be generally smaller and/or fewer in number than the feed passageways of the plates located proximate to the non-inlet side such that, during operation of the fuel cell assembly, a flow velocity of gas through the active area is generally constant.

Abstract: A battery system includes a metal oxygen battery. The metal oxygen battery includes a first electrode and a second electrode. The second electrode includes a metal material (M). The metal oxygen battery is in communication with an oxygen storage material. In certain instances, the oxygen storage material is contained within an oxygen containment unit. The metal oxygen battery and the oxygen containment unit may be in a closed-loop with respect to each other. The battery system further includes a conduit for providing fluid communication from one of the metal oxygen battery and the oxygen containment unit to the other of the metal oxygen battery and the oxygen containment unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a flowmeter for measuring flow rate of a fluid independently of fluid viscosity or density. In at least on embodiment, the flowmeter includes an inlet, an outlet, and a cylindrical chamber. The flowmeter also includes an impeller assembly positioned within a cylindrical chamber for rotation at a variable speed. In at least one embodiment, the flow rate of the fluid is determined when a pressure differential between the fluid in the let and fluid in the outlet becomes substantially zero.

Abstract: A method is provided for manufacturing a battery 18 having battery electrodes 20 and 22 with a desired porosity, using an electrochemical model 42 and a thermal model 44, that includes determining energy and current requirements for a particular application. Characteristics of the battery 18 in response to said energy and current requirements are determined. The battery characteristics and energy and current requirements are prepared for use in the electrochemical model 42 and the thermal model 44. The porosity of the battery electrodes is determined by solving equations within the electrochemical model 42 and the thermal model 44. Porosity of the battery electrodes is varied until voltage potential across the battery varies by less then a predetermined tolerance factor for an operating range state of charge. A paste mixture is created in response to the desired battery electrode porosity. The paste mixture is applied to a grid followed by curing of the grid and paste.

Abstract: A replacement battery formation method includes the steps of; providing a bank of batteries made up of a plurality of individual batteries having substantially the same state of formation; cycling a replacement battery by forcing repeated charging and discharging; monitoring a formation state of the replacement battery; ending the cycling when the replacement battery has approximately the same formation state as the plurality of individual batteries; and replacing one of the plurality of batteries with the replacement battery.

Abstract: A method is provided for manufacturing a battery 18 having battery electrodes 20 and 22 with a desired porosity, using an electrochemical model 42 and a thermal model 44, that includes determining energy and current requirements for a particular application. Characteristics of the battery 18 in response to said energy and current requirements are determined. The battery characteristics and energy and current requirements are prepared for use in the electrochemical model 42 and the thermal model 44. The porosity of the battery electrodes is determined by solving equations within the electrochemical model 42 and the thermal model 44. Porosity of the battery electrodes is varied until voltage potential across the battery varies by less then a predetermined tolerance factor for an operating range state of charge. A paste mixture is created in response to the desired battery electrode porosity. The paste mixture is applied to a grid followed by curing of the grid and paste.

Abstract: A replacement battery formation method includes the steps of; providing a bank of batteries made up of a plurality of individual batteries having substantially the same state of formation; cycling a replacement battery by forcing repeated charging and discharging; monitoring a formation state of the replacement battery; ending the cycling when the replacement battery has approximately the same formation state as the plurality of individual batteries; and replacing one of the plurality of batteries with the replacement battery.

Abstract: A battery cooling system 10 for use with a vehicle 14 including several batteries or battery modules 16-38 which provide power to the vehicle 12. The system 10 includes a refrigerant gas channeling or conduit system which is effective to store, compress, expand and circulate refrigerant gas through the battery pack 12 and the system 10. A first “high pressure” conduit system, having several tubes or conduits that are disposed throughout the vehicle 14, is used to selectively carry and transport pressurized or compressed refrigerant gas to the battery pack 12 and includes a pump 42, a heat exchanger 44, expansion valves 46-52, and conduits 54, 56, 58, 60 and 62. A second “low pressure” conduit system is used to circulate the “expanded” or decompressed refrigerant gas throughout the battery pack 12 and to return the refrigerant gas to pump 42 for recompression.

Abstract: A neural network characterized by a minimal architecture suitable for implementation in conventional microprocessor battery pack monitoring hardware includes linear and non-linear processing elements and battery parameter measurements representative of real time and temporal quantities whereby state of charge estimations actually converge with 100% and 0% states-of-charge.